Benefits of Eating Grapefruit

Grapefruit is a healthy addition to your diet and is very low in calories.

Grapefruit is not only a refreshing way to start your day, it is a nutrient-dense food. An entire medium grapefruit has a minimal 40 calories, while offering lots of antioxidants and other nutrients that protect your body. Opt for whole grapefruit, rather than grapefruit juice. Although juice still provides nutrients, you'll miss out on all of the beneficial fiber.

Disease Prevention

Packed with vitamin C, grapefruit can help protect against free radicals, which increase your risk of cancer, heart disease and other chronic diseases. A diet rich in vitamin C can help lower your risk of developing illnesses. Women need 75 milligrams of daily vitamin C, while men require 90 milligrams, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. One medium 4-inch grapefruit has about 45 milligrams of vitamin C.

Vision

You help protect your eyes when you eat grapefruit, because it is high in vitamin A. Women need 700 micrograms of vitamin A each day and men require 900 micrograms, reports the Office of Dietary Supplements. One medium 4-inch grapefruit has approximately 60 micrograms of vitamin A. Grapefruit also has beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin. These phytochemicals are compounds of vitamin A that protect eye health and lower your risk of age-related macular degeneration, which leads to vision loss.

Bowel Health

Grapefruit helps you meet your daily fiber intake, keeping your bowels healthy. Fiber keeps your bowels moving and prevents constipation. Citrus fruits contain soluble fiber, a type of fiber that slows digestion and allows nutrients to be fully absorbed in your intestines. For optimal bowel health, you need 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories in your diet, or 23 grams a day for a 1,600-calorie-per-day diet. You'll get around 1.5 grams from a medium 4-inch grapefruit.

Heart Function

Potassium, which is abundant in grapefruit, is one of several electrolytes that sustain fluid levels and electrical activity in your body. Normal heart rhythm relies heavily on this function. Insufficient potassium can result in an irregular heartbeat, known as arrhythmia. As an adult, you need 4,700 milligrams of potassium on a daily basis; one 4-inch grapefruit offers about 180 milligrams of potassium.